John Carpenter’s Alien Romance Gem Crash-Lands on Free Streaming

You can now watch John Carpenter’s Starman for free on Tubi. The 1984 sci-fi romance, starring Jeff Bridges (who received an Oscar nomination for his role), is a departure from Carpenter’s typical horror films and shows his versatility as a director. It’s a beloved movie from the ’80s that deserves a rewatch.

The movie Starman tells the story of Jenny Hayden, who is grieving the loss of her husband. Her life is turned upside down when an alien spaceship crashes nearby, and the alien inside takes on the appearance of her deceased husband, Scott. Initially terrified, Jenny tries to get away, but the alien reveals why he came to Earth. Eventually, Jenny and the alien, nicknamed Starman, form an emotional bond, and she decides to help him evade government agents who are determined to capture him.

After responding to a NASA message meant for extraterrestrials, an alien—known as Starman (Jeff Bridges)—attempts to make contact with humans. However, a U.S. missile forces him to crash-land, leading him to take over the body of a recently deceased man from Wisconsin and, subsequently, ‘kidnap’ the man’s wife, Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). Starman and Jenny embark on a journey to Arizona, where he hopes to rendezvous with a ship from his home world. While being hunted by the military, Starman and Jenny develop a deep connection.

John Carpenter’s Unique Romance Includes One of the Best Sci-Fi Performances of the 1980s


Starman

It’s clear that Starman marked a departure for director John Carpenter, who was previously known for horror films like Halloween, The Thing, and Christine. With Starman, he moved into a more heartfelt science fiction story, a significant change from his early, quirky space horror film, Dark Star.

John Carpenter has often talked about wanting to make a romantic comedy, ever since being inspired by the classic film It Happened One Night. He told Mubi he was thrilled to finally have the opportunity with Starman. While acknowledging Starman is a science fiction film with connections to E.T., he was primarily excited to explore the romantic comedy genre.

Jeff Bridges’ performance is central to why people love Starman. He was even nominated for an Academy Award, making it the only John Carpenter film to ever receive such recognition. Carpenter himself said the film was really a Jeff Bridges vehicle, emphasizing Bridges’ key role and praising him as a fantastic actor. He added with a laugh that, at its heart, it’s a romantic film.

As a huge movie fan, especially of sci-fi, I always thought the 80s were a bit light on films that really focused on feelings – a lot of them were all about the special effects. Spielberg’s E.T. was a big exception, of course, but Starman is another one that really stuck with me. It’s a movie that truly connects with you on an emotional level. And the best part? You can stream it on Tubi right now, completely free!

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2025-12-07 19:19